iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max EXPERT Review: Worth the Upgrade?

Summary

In this review, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are tested for their larger screens, camera control, Apple intelligence features, and battery life. The Pro offers a 6.3-inch screen, while the Pro Max boasts a massive 6.9-inch display. Both models feature a 48-megapixel camera, improved durability, and the new camera control button. Despite lacking in graphics and charging speeds, the Pro Max excels in battery life and camera quality, making it a top choice for big-screen enthusiasts.

Takeaways

• 📱 The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have larger screens than their predecessors, with the Pro featuring a 6.3-inch display and the Pro Max a massive 6.9-inch display.
• 🔄 The only differences between the two models are screen size, starting storage, and battery life.
• 💪 Both models are more durable, featuring a titanium band and a 50% tougher Ceramic Shield display.
• 🎨 The displays can now scale down to a minimum of one nit for use in low light conditions without disturbing others.
• 📸 Camera upgrades include a 48-megapixel Fusion camera for faster shooting and a new 48-megapixel Ultra-wide camera for higher resolution photos.
• 📹 A new camera control button allows for quick access to the camera and shooting, with the ability to adjust settings like exposure and focus.
• 🌌 The iPhone 16 Pro excels in low-light photography, producing images that resemble a natural night sky.
• 🎥 Video capabilities have been enhanced, with the ability to capture 4K video at up to 120 frames per second and a new audio mix feature to minimize background noise.
• 🤖 Apple intelligence features, including a revamped Siri, writing tools, and photo cleanup, are designed to be more secure and helpful, but some features will be rolled out later.
• 🔋 The iPhone 16 Pro Max is touted as the longest-lasting iPhone ever, with an impressive battery life of 18 hours and 6 minutes in a continuous web surfing test.
• 🔌 However, both models still offer the same charging speeds, with no improvement in快充 capabilities.

Q & A

What are the starting prices and storage capacities for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max?

The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 for 128GB of storage, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at a higher $1,099 and comes with 256GB of storage. Both models offer up to 1TB of storage.

What are the screen sizes for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max?

The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, up from 6.1 inches, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch display, which is the largest ever for an iPhone.

What new camera feature does the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max introduce?

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max introduce a dedicated camera control button that allows for quick launching of the camera app and capturing photos.

How do the new iPhone 16 Pro models perform in terms of durability?

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are built to be more durable, featuring a titanium band and a Ceramic Shield display that Apple claims is 50% tougher than before.

What new camera upgrades do the iPhone 16 Pro models receive?

The iPhone 16 Pro models receive a 48-megapixel Fusion camera for faster shooting, a new 48-megapixel Ultra-wide camera for crisp shots, and the same Tetra prism zoom lens for 5x optical zoom as the Pro Max.

What is the new 'Photographic Styles' feature exclusive to the iPhone 16 Series?

Photographic Styles is a feature that allows users to choose from different skin undertone styles and mood-based styles to change the look of their photos before and after capture.

How does the iPhone 16 Pro perform in low-light conditions compared to competitors?

The iPhone 16 Pro does a great job illuminating scenes in complete darkness, providing a more natural-looking night sky and clearer lettering on signs compared to the Samsung and Pixel competitors.

What new video feature does the iPhone 16 Pro have for recording 4K video?

The iPhone 16 Pro can capture 4K video at up to 120 frames per second, allowing for creative playback speed controls and smooth transitions during zooming.

What is the 'Audio Mix' feature on the iPhone 16 Pro models?

Audio Mix uses spatial audio capture and AI to minimize background noise, focusing on the people within the frame, and offers different modes to balance ambient noise and voice clarity.

How does Apple's new A18 Pro chip impact the performance of the iPhone 16 Pro models?

The A18 Pro chip provides significant performance improvements, especially in CPU tasks, making the iPhone 16 Pro models nearly 50% faster than the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Snapdragon HN3 chip in single-core performance and 15% higher in multi-core performance.

What is the battery life performance of the iPhone 16 Pro Max in comparison to its predecessor?

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has an impressive battery life, lasting 18 hours and 6 minutes in a continuous web surfing test over 5G, which is 4 hours longer than the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

What is the main disappointment regarding the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max's charging capabilities?

The main disappointment is that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max offer the same charging speeds as their predecessors, only achieving just over 50% capacity in 30 minutes from a 30W charger.